Shloka 5.34.25

सीताहनूमद्भाषणम् — Sita Tests the Messenger; Hanuman Offers Reassurance

Devanagari script

इत्येवं बहुधा सीता सम्प्रधार्य बलाबलम्।।।।रक्षसां कामरूपत्वान्मेने तं राक्षसाधिपम्।

Transliteration

ity evaṃ bahudhā sītā sampradhārya balābalam | rakṣasāṃ kāmarūpatvān mene taṃ rākṣasādhipam ||

Translation

Thus Sītā, deliberating in many ways upon strength and weakness, and remembering that the rākṣasas can assume forms at will, suspected him to be the lord of rākṣasas.

Context

Considering the strength and weakness of demons in that manner Sita thought that Hanuman was none other than the king of demons who can asume any form at will.

Characters & Entities

• Sītā
• rākṣasas
• rākṣasādhipa (Rāvaṇa, implied)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is prudent caution in a hostile setting: Sītā’s suspicion arises from knowledge of rākṣasa deception, showing that truth-seeking includes guarding against manipulation.

What is the narrative situation?

The narrator summarizes Sītā’s internal deliberation: due to the shapeshifting nature of demons, she momentarily suspects the visitor could be the rākṣasa king in disguise.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Sītā’s vigilance and practical wisdom—she assesses threats realistically rather than yielding to naïve hope.